Hvac-based volume control

ABSTRACT

A system, apparatus and method for automatically controlling the volume of a home entertainment device by an HVAC component. An HVAC component determines when it, or another HVAC, is active or not, and causes a home entertainment device to adjust its volume accordingly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/546,639, filed on Aug. 21, 2019.

BACKGROUND Field of Use

The present application relates to the field of consumer electronics.More specifically, the present application relates to automatic volumecontrol of home entertainment devices via HVAC equipment.

Description of the Related Art

Consumer-based Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)equipment is used to heat and cool homes, comprising central or localair conditioners and heating systems. Such HVAC components are typicallycontrolled by one or more thermostats located in one or more rooms of aresidence.

HVAC components, such as compressors, heat pumps, fans, and furnaces,may be quite noisy, on the order of 50-70 decibels when in operation.The sound produced by these components may travel through walls,ceilings and through HVAC ducting to cause unwanted noise that mayinterfere with sounds produced by TVs or other home entertainmentdevices. While users may simply adjust the volume of such homeentertainment devices in order to compensate for the noise produced byHVAC equipment, the audio interference caused by HVAC components tend tobe intermittent, as the HVAC equipment is cycled on and off to regulatetemperatures. As such, users may have to adjust the volume of homeentertainment devices up when HVAC components are running, and then downagain once the HVAC components have finished their heating or coolingcycle.

Thus, it would be desirable to automatically adjust the volume of homeentertainment devices to mitigate the audio interference caused by HVACcomponents.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein relate to methods, systems, andapparatus for automatically controlling the volume of a homeentertainment device. In one embodiment, an apparatus is described,comprising a memory for storing processor-executable instructions, anemitter for transmitting a volume control signal, the volume controlsignal for causing the volume of the home entertainment device toincrease or decrease, a processor coupled to the memory and thetransmitter that executes the processor-executable instructions thatcauses the apparatus to determine, by the processor, that an HVACcomponent has been activated, and in response to determining that theHVAC component has been activated, cause, by the processor, the emitterto transmit the volume control signal.

In another embodiment, a method is described, comprising determining, bya processor, that an HVAC component has been activated and in responseto determining that the HVAC component has been activated, causing, bythe processor, an emitter to transmit a volume control signal, thevolume control signal for causing the volume of the home entertainmentdevice to increase when the HVAC component has been activated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, advantages, and objects of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the detailed description as set forth below,when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like referencedcharacters identify correspondingly throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of a residence comprising home entertainmentequipment and HVAC components utilizing the inventive concepts describedherein to automatically control the volume of one or more of the homeentertainment devices;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of a thermostatas shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment where the thermostatdetermines when an HVAC component has been activated or deactivated, andautomatically controls the volume of one or more home entertainmentdevices when the HVAC component has been activated or deactivated;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of a portableelectronic device as shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodimentwhere the portable electronic device determines when an HVAC componenthas been activated or deactivated, and automatically controls the volumeof one or more home entertainment devices when the HVAC component hasbeen activated or deactivated; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B represent a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment ofa method, performed by the thermostat of FIGS. 1 and 2, for automaticvolume control of a home entertainment device when an HVAC component hasbeen activated or deactivated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present description relates to systems, methods and apparatus forautomatically controlling the volume of consumer-based homeentertainment devices, such as televisions, music reproduction equipment(such as audio amplifiers, tuners, receivers, radios, etc.), and evenpersonal electronics, such as tablet computers, wearable devices orearbuds. Such automatic volume control is performed by one or morecomponents of an HVAC system. In one embodiment, a thermostat determineswhen HVAC equipment is operating or not and, in response, causes achange in the volume of one or more home entertainment devices. Inanother embodiment, a portable electronic device performs this function.

FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of a residence 100 comprising homeentertainment components and HVAC components utilizing the inventiveconcepts described herein to automatically control the volume of one ormore of the home entertainment components. In this embodiment, residence100 comprises a television 102, set-top box 104, receiver/amplifier 106,personal electronic device 108 (collectively, “home entertainmentdevices”), central furnace 110, central air conditioning unit 112,thermostat 114 and portable electronic device 116. Although residence100 shows a particular combination of home entertainment devices (i.e.,a single television, a single set-top box, a single receiver/amplifier106 and a single personal electronic device) and a particular HVACarrangement (i.e., a single furnace, a single air conditioning unit, anda single thermostat), it should be understood that the conceptsdescribed herein could be applied to a residence having any number orcombination of home entertainment devices and that the HVAC componentscould comprise any number or combination of components other than whatis shown in FIG. 1.

In one embodiment, thermostat 114 is configured to determine when anHVAC component has been activated and/or deactivated, and thenthermostat 114 sends a volume control signal to one or more of the homeentertainment devices to adjust a respective output volume either up, orlouder, when an HVAC component has been activated, or down, or softer,when an HVAC component has been deactivated. In one embodiment,thermostat 114 determines when an HVAC component has been activated ordeactivated by determining when thermostat 114 sends a control signal toan HVAC component, i.e., a signal to turn a central air conditioningunit or a central furnace on or off. In one embodiment, thermostat 114may be programmed by a user to control the amount of volume adjustmentof one or more home entertainment devices when an HVAC is activated ordeactivated. In one embodiment, thermostat 114 comprises an infra-redemitter in view of an infra-red receiver of one or more homeentertainment devices, and thermostat 114 sends volume control signalsto the one or more home entertainment devices via the infra-red emitter.In other embodiments, the volume control signal is sent to one or morehome entertainment devices via an RF transmitter, such as a Wi-Ficompatible transmitter or other RF-based transmitter compatible with anRF receiver on at least one of the home entertainment devices.

In another embodiment, a portable control unit 116 may be placed, orattached, to one of the HVAC components directly, for example, placed ona central air conditioner unit or central furnace, or on awindow-mounted air conditioner. The portable control unit 116 may bebattery powered, or it may be powered by household AC power. Theportable control unit determines when an HVAC component has beenactivated or deactivated, and then sends a volume control signal to oneor more of the home entertainment devices. In one embodiment, portablecontrol unit 116 may determine activation by sensing a sound, vibration,or an electrical control signal (i.e., on a pair of wires fromthermostat 114) generated by the HVAC component when the HVAC isactivated, and the lack of sound, vibration or a change in theelectrical control signal when the HVAC is deactivated. The portablecontrol unit 116 may comprise an emitter to transmit volume controlsignals, such as an infra-red LED or an RF transmitter, compatible withan infra-red or RF receiver on at least one of the home entertainmentdevices.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of thermostat 114in accordance with an embodiment where thermostat 114 determines when anHVAC component has been activated or deactivated, and automaticallycontrols the volume of one or more home entertainment devices. FIG. 2shows processor 200, memory 202, thermometer 204, emitter 206,transmitter 208, receiver 210, and user interface 212. It should beunderstood that not all of the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 arerequired for operation of thermostat 114, that the functional blocks maybe connected to one another in a variety of ways, and that not allfunctional blocks are necessary for operation of the sensor are shown(such as a power supply), for purposes of clarity.

Processor 200 is configured to provide general operation of the sensorby executing processor-executable instructions stored in memory 202, forexample, executable code. Processor 200 typically comprises a generalpurpose processor, such as an ADuC7024 analog microcontrollermanufactured by Analog Devices, Inc. of Norwood Mass., although any oneof a variety of microprocessors, microcomputers, and/or microcontrollersmay be used alternatively.

Memory 202 comprises one or more information storage devices, such asRAM, ROM, EEPROM, UVPROM, flash memory, SD memory, XD memory, or othertype of electronic, optical, or mechanical memory device. Memory 202 isused to store processor-executable instructions for operation ofthermostat 114 as well as any information used by processor 200, such astemperature and time setpoints, identification information of thermostat114 (i.e., a serial number), current or previous temperature and/orhumidity levels, one or more volume settings, etc. The instructionscause thermostat 114 to determine when HVAC equipment is running or not,and cause one or more home entertainment devices to adjust a respectivevolume in order to overcome audio interference caused by the HVACequipment.

Thermostat 204 is coupled to processor 400 and provides electronicsignals representative of an ambient temperature of an area insideresidence 100 and proximate to thermostat 114. Thermostat 204 maycomprise a mechanical-based or solid-state device that is well-known inthe art.

Emitter 206 is coupled to processor 200 and is used to emit volumecontrol signals in some embodiments, generated by processor 200 whenprocessor 200 detects that an HVAC component has become energized orde-energized. In one embodiment, emitter 206 comprises an infra-redlight-emitting diode (LED) operating at 940 nanometers. In otherembodiments, emitter 206 comprises an RF transmitter configured tooperate at a frequency compatible with an RF receiver in one or morehome entertainment devices.

Transmitter 208 is coupled to processor 200 and is configured fortransmitting HVAC signals to one or more HVAC components. Transmitter208 comprises circuitry for wireless or wired transmission, such as awireless RF transmitter compatible with an RF receiver in one or moreHVAC components or simply a switch or relay for opening and closing acircuit that is formed between transmitter 208 and one or more HVACcomponents via common thermostat wiring. In one embodiment, transmitter208 is used to transmit volume control signals to one or more homeentertainment devices in an embodiment in which volume control of homeentertainment devices may be controlled by RF signals.

Receiver 210 is coupled to processor 200 and is configured for receivingvolume settings from a user, typically over a home Wi-Fi network or someother wireless network, such as a cellular data network. Volume settingsmay be provided by a user operating a software program, or app, beingexecuted by personal electronic device 108, in the form of an absolutesetting (i.e., set volume to “8” or “50 decibels”) or a relative setting(i.e., set increase volume by 3 “increments”, decrease volume to 3increments, where “increments” are predetermined volume changestypically used to control TV and other amplification devices using aremote control. Such receivers are well-known in the art.

User interface 212 is coupled to processor 200 and configured forreceiving user input, such as temperature/time settings and, in oneembodiment, volume settings. A user may provide one or more volumesettings to thermostat 114 by entering such volume settings via one ormore pushbuttons, knobs, a touchscreen device, etc.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of portableelectronic device 116, in accordance with an embodiment where portableelectronic device 116 determines when an HVAC component has beenactivated or deactivated, and automatically controls the volume of oneor more home entertainment devices. Portable device 116 may be used toeasily monitor a particular HVAC component, such as a room airconditioner, a fan, a central furnace, a central air conditioning unit,an air conditioning compressor, etc., by placing portable electronicdevice 116 on or near such HVAC components, requiring little to nointegration with such HVAC components. FIG. 3 shows processor 300,memory 302, emitter 304, user interface 306, receiver 308, userinterface 310 activation/de-activation detection circuitry 310, andtransmitter 312. It should be understood that not all of the functionalblocks shown in FIG. 3 are required for operation of portable electronicdevice 116, that the functional blocks may be connected to one anotherin a variety of ways, and that not all functional blocks are necessaryfor operation of the sensor are shown (such as a power supply), forpurposes of clarity.

Processor 300 is configured to provide general operation of the sensorby executing processor-executable instructions stored in memory 202, forexample, executable code. Processor 300 typically comprises a generalpurpose processor, such as an ADuC7024 analog microcontrollermanufactured by Analog Devices, Inc. of Norwood Mass., although any oneof a variety of microprocessors, microcomputers, and/or microcontrollersmay be used alternatively. In some embodiments, processor 200, as wellas other components of portable electronic device 116, are selectedbased on power-consumption in embodiments where portable electronicdevice 116 is battery powered.

Memory 302 comprises one or more information storage devices, such asRAM, ROM, EEPROM, UVPROM, flash memory, SD memory, XD memory, or othertype of electronic, optical, or mechanical memory device. Memory 302 isused to store processor-executable instructions for operation ofportable electronic device 116 as well as any information used byprocessor 300, such as one or more volume settings. The instructionscause portable electronic device 116 to determine when a particular HVACcomponent is running or not, and cause one or more home entertainmentdevices to adjust a respective volume in order to overcome audiointerference caused by the HVAC component.

Emitter 304 is coupled to processor 300 and is used to emit volumecontrol signals in some embodiments, generated by processor 300 whenprocessor 300 detects that an HVAC component has become energized orde-energized. In one embodiment, emitter 304 comprises an infra-redlight-emitting diode (LED) operating at 940 nanometers. In otherembodiments, emitter 304 comprises an RF transmitter configured tooperate at a frequency compatible with an RF receiver in one or morehome entertainment devices.

User interface 306 is coupled to processor 300 and configured forreceiving user input, such as volume settings. A user may provide one ormore volume settings to portable electronic device 116 by entering suchvolume settings via one or more pushbuttons, knobs, a touchscreendevice, etc.

Receiver 308 is coupled to processor 300 and is configured for receivingvolume settings from a user, typically over a home Wi-Fi network or someother wireless network, such as a cellular data network. Such receiversare well-known in the art.

Activation/De-activation detection circuitry 310 is used to determinewhen an HVAC component has been activated or de-activated, typically bya separate HVAC component, such as thermostat 116.Activation/De-activation detection circuitry 310 comprises a microphoneand associated audio amplification circuitry in an embodiment whereportable electronic device 116 detects activation and de-activation ofan HVAC component by monitoring sounds produced by the HVAC componentwhile it is operating vs. an ambient noise level when the HVAC componentis dormant. In another embodiment, Activation/De-activation detectioncircuitry 310 comprises input and output contacts that are wired inseries with thermostat control wires from thermostat 116. Theactivation/de-activation detection circuitry 310 further includescircuitry that monitors the thermostat control wires and detects when achange has occurred via the control wires, such as thermostat 116opening or closing a switch or relay that is used to operate a centralfurnace and/or air conditioning component. In yet another embodiment,activation/de-activation detection circuitry 310 comprises a vibrationsensor, such as a mechanical or solid-state device, that detects when amonitored HVAC component has been activated. Typically, HVAC componentsgenerate mechanical vibration when they are activated, and the vibrationsensor detects operation of an HVAC component by detecting vibrationwhen the HVAC is operating and no or little vibration while the HVACcomponent is dormant.

Transmitter 312 is used in one embodiment, coupled to processor 300configured for transmitting volume control signals to one or more homeentertainment devices in an embodiment in which volume control of homeentertainment devices may be controlled by RF signals.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method,performed by thermostat 114, for automatic volume control of a homeentertainment device when an HVAC component has been activated ordeactivated, in order to mitigate the effects of unwanted noise producedby the HVAC component. It should be understood that the method describedherein with respect to FIG. 4 could alternatively be performed by anHVAC component other than thermostat 114, such as by a central airconditioner, central furnace, window-mounted air conditioner,compressor, etc. It should also be understood that in some embodiments,not all of the method steps shown in FIG. 4 are performed, and that theorder in which the steps are performed may be different in otherembodiments.

At block 400, thermostat 114 is operating normally within residence 100,having a setpoint stored in memory 202 at which cooling or heatingshould occur. Processor 200 monitors thermometer 204 to determine whenthe ambient temperature around thermostat 114 exceeds the setpoint. Atthis point, the ambient temperature proximate to thermostat 114 is suchthat neither heating nor cooling of residence 114 by central furnace 110or central air conditioning unit 112 is needed.

At block 402, processor 200 receives identification information, viareceiver 210 or user interface 212, indicating an identity of one ormore home entertainment devices. The identification information fromreceiver 210 may originate from an app executed on personal electronicdevice 108, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or othercomputing/communication device. The identification information maycomprise a make, model, manufacturer's code, etc. of a homeentertainment device, provided as alpha-numeric information, a bar code,a QR code, or some other representation of identification information ofone or more home entertainment devices that a user wishes to controlwhen one or more HVAC components are activated or deactivated. In oneembodiment, memory 202 is preloaded with a lookup table comprising alist of home entertainment devices, each cross-referenced to aparticular home entertainment device communication protocol.

In another embodiment, processor 200 causes thermostat 114 to “pair”with one or more home entertainment devices using well-known pairingtechniques in the art. Such pairing allows communication between a homeentertainment device and thermostat 114, typically via transmitter 208and receiver 210.

At block 404, processor 200 may receive one or more volume settings viareceiver 210 or user interface 212, each volume setting indicating adesired volume of a home entertainment device by a user of the homeentertainment device when one or more HVAC components are activated ordeactivated. The volume setting may comprise an absolute volume or arelative volume. The volume setting may comprise a number of volumeincrease commands for thermostat 114 to send when one or more HVACcomponents are activated by thermostat 114. In one embodiment, thevolume setting indicated by a user causes processor 200 to generateequal volume adjustment signals for volume increases as well as volumedecreases. The volume setting typically causes a home entertainmentdevice to change its volume only slightly to modestly, i.e., on theorder of 0.1 decibels to 5 decibels, so that a user can still hear audiosignals from the home entertainment device in spite of noise generatedby one or more HVAC components when activated. Processor 200 stores thevolume setting(s) in memory 202.

At block 406, a home entertainment device, such as a television,receiver, set-top box, iPad, iPod, is turned on by a user. A volume ofthe home entertainment device is set to a desirable level, eithermanually by the user or by default by the home entertainment device. Thevolume is set so that the user can hear audio from the homeentertainment device at a comfortable level.

At block 408, processor 200 determines that the ambient temperature inresidence 100 proximate to thermostat 114 has met or exceeded thesetpoint while thermostat 114 is in a cooling mode, or that the ambienttemperature has met or decreased below the setpoint while thermostat 114is in a heating mode. For example, in a cooling mode, when the ambienttemperature has climbed to 76 degrees and the setpoint is 75 degrees.Or, alternatively, in a heating mode, that the ambient temperature hasfallen to 71 degrees and the setpoint is 72 degrees.

At block 410, in response to determining that the ambient temperaturehas met or exceeded the setpoint while thermostat 114 is in a coolingmode, or that the ambient temperature has met or fallen below thesetpoint while thermostat 114 is in a heating mode, processor 200generates an HVAC control signal to activate one or more HVACcomponents. In the case that the ambient temperature exceeds a coolingsetpoint, i.e., that the ambient temperature proximate to thermostat 114has increased past a desired temperature, the HVAC control signal causescentral air conditioning system 112 to activate. Alternatively, when theambient temperature falls below a heating setpoint, i.e., that theambient temperature proximate to thermostat 114 has decreased past adesired temperature, the HVAC control signal causes central furnace 110to activate.

At block 412, processor 200 sends the HVAC control signal to one or moreof the HVAC components via transmitter 208 (or via wiring).

At block 414, in response to sending the HVAC control signal, processor200 generates one or more volume control signals that causes one or morehome entertainment devices to increase a volume of the one or more homeentertainment devices. The volume control signal is generated inaccordance with a communication protocol of one or more of the homeentertainment devices, i.e., an IR or RF communication protocol, asspecified by the information stored in memory 202. Processor 200 maygenerate the volume control signal in accordance with the volume settingreceived in a previous block, i.e. generate a volume control signal thatcauses one or more home entertainment devices to increase its volume byan amount specified by the volume setting. In one embodiment, the volumecontrol signal comprises two or more signals, each signal causing one ormore home entertainment devices to increase its volume by apredetermined amount, where the number of signals generated by processor200 causes one or more home entertainment devices to increase its/theirvolume by the amount specified by the volume setting.

At block 416, processor 200 sends the volume control signal to one ormore home entertainment devices via emitter 206 and/or transmitter 208,depending on the communication protocol used to generate the volumecontrol signal. The volume control signal is received by one or more ofthe home entertainment devices, causing the one or more homeentertainment devices to increase an output volume in an amount inaccordance with the volume setting or, in another embodiment, by afixed, predetermined amount as prestored in memory 202. The volumeincrease caused by the volume control signal enables the user tocomfortably hear audio from one or more of the entertainment devicesover the noise caused by one or more of the activated HVAC components.

At block 418, in an embodiment where portable control unit 116 is usedto determine activation and deactivation of an HVAC component, processor300 determines activation and deactivation using one or more techniques,such as by monitoring electronic signals on wiring from thermostat 114to detect “on” and “off” signals from thermostat 114, monitoring audiosignals received by activation/de-activation detection circuitry 310 todetermine activation when audio signals exceed a threshold stored inmemory 302 and deactivation when audio signals are below the threshold,monitoring for vibration to determine activation when vibration exceedsa vibration threshold stored in memory and deactivation when thevibration sensed by activation/de-activation detection circuitry 310falls below the threshold, etc. Upon detection of activation of an HVACcomponent, processor 300 generates a volume control signal, as describedabove, and sends the volume control signal to one or more homeentertainment devices via emitter 304 and/or transmitter 312.

At block 420, at some later time, processor 200 determines that theambient temperature in residence 100 proximate to thermostat 114 has metor fallen below the setpoint while thermostat 114 is in a cooling mode,or that the ambient temperature has met or exceeded the setpoint whilethermostat 114 is in a heating mode. For example, in a cooling mode, theambient temperature falling to 74 degrees when the setpoint is 75degrees when thermostat 114. Or, alternatively, that the ambienttemperature has increased to 76 degrees when the setpoint is 75 degrees.

At block 422, in response to determining that the ambient temperaturehas met or fallen below the setpoint in a cooling mode, or met orexceeded the setpoint in a heating mode, processor 200 generates an HVACcontrol signal to deactivate one or more HVAC components. In the casethat the ambient temperature has fallen below a cooling setpoint, i.e.,that the ambient temperature proximate to thermostat 114 has decreasedpast the cooling setpoint, the HVAC control signal causes central airconditioning system 112 to deactivate, i.e., turn off. Alternatively,when the ambient temperature meets or exceeds a heating setpoint, i.e.,that the ambient temperature proximate to thermostat 114 has increasedpast a heating setpoint, the HVAC signal causes central furnace 110 todeactivate.

At block 424, processor 200 sends the HVAC control signal to one or moreof the HVAC components via transmitter 208 (or via wiring).

At block 426, in response to sending the HVAC control signal, processor200 generates one or more volume control signals that causes the one ormore home entertainment devices to decrease a volume of the one or morehome entertainment devices. Processor 200 may generate the volumecontrol signal in accordance with the volume setting received in aprevious block, i.e. generate a volume control signal that causes one ormore home entertainment devices to decrease its volume by an amountspecified by the volume setting. In one embodiment, the volume controlsignal comprises two or more signals, each signal causing one or morehome entertainment devices to decrease its volume by a predeterminedamount, where the number of signals generated by processor 200 causesone or more home entertainment devices to decrease its/their volume bythe amount specified by the volume setting.

At block 428, processor 200 sends the volume control signal to the oneor more home entertainment devices via emitter 206 and/or transmitter208, depending on the communication protocol used to generate the volumecontrol signal. The volume control signal is received by one or more ofthe home entertainment devices, causing the one or more homeentertainment devices to decrease an output volume in an amount inaccordance with the volume setting or, in another embodiment, by afixed, predetermined amount as prestored in memory 202. The volumedecrease caused by the volume control signal re-adjusts the volume ofone or more home entertainment devices back to a volume that iscomfortable for the user when no noise is generated by any HVACcomponent.

The methods or algorithms described in connection with the embodimentsdisclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware or embodied inprocessor-readable instructions executed by a processor. Theprocessor-readable instructions may reside in RAM memory, flash memory,ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, aremovable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known inthe art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor suchthat the processor can read information from, and write information to,the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may beintegral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium mayreside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In thealternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discretecomponents.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention may comprise acomputer-readable media embodying code or processor-readableinstructions to implement the teachings, methods, processes, algorithms,steps and/or functions disclosed herein.

While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative embodiments of theinvention, it should be noted that various changes and modificationscould be made herein without departing from the scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps and/or actionsof the method claims in accordance with the embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein need not be performed in any particular order.Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described orclaimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation tothe singular is explicitly stated.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for automatically controlling a volume of ahome entertainment device, comprising: a memory for storingprocessor-executable instructions; an emitter for transmitting a volumecontrol signal, the volume control signal for causing the volume of thehome entertainment device to increase or decrease; a microphone forconverting sound into electronic signals; a processor coupled to thememory, the emitter and the microphone that executes theprocessor-executable instructions that causes the apparatus to:determine, by the processor via the electronic signals from themicrophone, that an ambient sound level has changed in excess of apredetermined threshold; and in response to determining that the ambientsound level has changed in excess of a predetermined threshold, cause,by the processor, the emitter to transmit the volume control signal. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume control signal comprisesone or more instructions to increase or decrease the volume of the homeentertainment device an amount consistent with the ambient sound levelchange.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter comprises aninfra-red light source compatible with an infra-red receiver of the homeentertainment device.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emittercomprises an RF transmitter compatible with an RF receiver of the homeentertainment device.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: auser interface coupled to the processor; and the processor-executableinstructions further comprise instructions that causes the apparatus to:receive, by the processor via the user interface, an identification ofthe home entertainment device; store, by the processor in a memorycoupled to the processor, the identification; and select, by theprocessor, a communication protocol stored in the memory in associationwith the identification to generate the volume control signal.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an RF receiver coupled to theprocessor; and the processor-executable instructions further compriseinstructions that causes the apparatus to: receive, by the processor viathe RF receiver, an identification of the home entertainment device;store, by the processor in a memory coupled to the processor, theidentification; and select, by the processor, a communication protocolstored in the memory in association with the identification to generatethe volume control signal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theapparatus comprises a thermostat, the thermostat further comprising: atemperature sensor coupled to the processor; and a transmitter fortransmitting HVAC control signals to the HVAC component; wherein theprocessor-executable instructions that causes the apparatus to determinethat that an HVAC component has been activated or deactivated comprises:determine, by the processor via the temperature sensor, that atemperature threshold has been reached; in response to determining thatthe temperature threshold has been reached: activate, by the processorvia the transmitter, the HVAC component; and generate, by the processor,the volume control signal that causes the home entertainment device toincrease the volume of the home entertainment device while the HVACcomponent is activated.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a user interface coupled to the processor; and the processor-executableinstructions further comprise instructions that causes the apparatus to:receive, by the processor via the user interface, a volume setting, thevolume setting indicative of a desired volume of the home entertainmentdevice when the HVAC component is activated; and wherein theprocessor-executable instructions that causes the processor to generatethe volume control signal comprises instructions that causes theprocessor to: generate the volume control signal in accordance with thevolume setting that causes the home entertainment device to adjust thevolume of the home entertainment device to the desired volume.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an RF receiver coupled to theprocessor; and the processor-executable instructions further compriseinstructions that causes the apparatus to: receive, by the processor viathe RF receiver, a volume setting, the volume setting indicative of adesired volume of the home entertainment device when the HVAC componentis activated; and wherein the processor-executable instructions thatcauses the processor to generate the volume control signal comprisesinstructions that causes the processor to: generate the volume controlsignal in accordance with the volume setting that causes the homeentertainment device to adjust the volume of the home entertainmentdevice to the desired volume.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theapparatus comprises a portable electronic device for directly monitoringthe HVAC component, further comprising: an electronic input coupled tothe processor for receiving a signal indicative of the HVAC componentbeing activated or deactivated and providing the signal to theprocessor; wherein the instructions that causes the processor todetermine that the HVAC component has been activated or deactivatedcomprises instructions that causes the processor to: receive the signalfrom the electronic input; compare the signal to a threshold stored inthe memory; and determine that the HVAC component has been activatedwhen the signal exceeds the threshold.
 11. A method for automaticallycontrolling a volume of a home entertainment device, comprising:determining, by a processor, that an HVAC component has been activated;and in response to determining that the HVAC component has beenactivated, causing, by the processor, an emitter to transmit a volumecontrol signal, the volume control signal for causing the volume of thehome entertainment device to increase when the HVAC component has beenactivated.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the volume control signalcomprises one or more instructions to increase or decrease the volume ofthe home entertainment device an amount consistent with the ambientsound level change.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the emittercomprises an infra-red light source compatible with an infra-redreceiver of the home entertainment device.
 14. The method of claim 11,wherein the emitter comprises an RF transmitter compatible with an RFreceiver of the home entertainment device.
 15. The method of claim 11,further comprising: receiving, by the processor via a user interfacecoupled to the transmitter, an identification of the home entertainmentdevice; storing, by the processor, the identification in a memorycoupled to the processor; and selecting, by the processor, acommunication protocol stored in the memory in association with theidentification to generate the volume control signal.
 16. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising: receiving, by the processor via a receivercoupled to the transmitter, an identification of the home entertainmentdevice; storing, by the processor, the identification in a memorycoupled to the processor; and selecting, by the processor, acommunication protocol stored in the memory in association with theidentification to generate the volume control signal.
 17. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the method is performed by a thermostat, the methodcomprising: determining, by the processor via a temperature sensorcoupled to the processor, that a temperature threshold has been reached;in response to determining that the temperature threshold has beenreached: activating, by the processor via a transmitter coupled to theprocessor, the HVAC component; and generating, by the processor, thevolume control signal that causes the home entertainment device toincrease the volume of the home entertainment device while the HVACcomponent is activated.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:receiving, by the processor via a user interface coupled to theprocessor, a volume setting, the volume setting indicative of a desiredvolume of the home entertainment device when the HVAC component isactivated; and generating the volume control signal in accordance withthe volume setting that causes the home entertainment device to adjustthe volume of the home entertainment device to the desired volume. 19.The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, by the processorvia an RF receiver coupled to the processor, a volume setting, thevolume setting indicative of a desired volume of the home entertainmentdevice when the HVAC component is activated; and generating the volumecontrol signal in accordance with the volume setting that causes thehome entertainment device to adjust the volume of the home entertainmentdevice to the desired volume.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein themethod is performed by a portable electronic device for directlymonitoring the HVAC component, and wherein determining that the HVACcomponent has been activated or deactivated comprises: receiving, by theprocessor, a signal from an electronic input coupled to the processorindicative of the HVAC component being activated or deactivated;comparing the signal to a threshold stored in a memory coupled to theprocessor; and determining that the HVAC component has been activatedwhen the signal exceeds the threshold.